Top End T20 series Archives

Bowlers star as Pakistan Shaheens stun Melbourne Renegades

DARWIN: Arafat Minhas and Ali Asfand spearheaded Pakistan Shaheens’ bowling attack to edge Melbourne Renegades by eight runs in a low-scoring Top End T20 Series thriller here on Tuesday.

Set to chase a modest 94, Melbourne Renegades were bundled out for a paltry 85 to hand a narrow eight-run victory to Pakistan Shaheens.

A stunning display with the ball scripted Pakistan Shaheens’ second win in as many days. Shaheens successfully defended a small target of 94 by bowling out Melbourne Renegades on 85 in 19.4 overs at the TIO Stadium in the Top End T20 Series on Tuesday.

With three wickets each from their four overs, Ali Asfand, who conceded only eight runs and bowled 16 dots, and Arafat Minhas, who conceded 15 and bowled 15 dots, spearheaded Shaheens’ defence.

Sajjad Ali, Faisal Akram and Ahmed Khan took a wicket each. Dylan Brasher’s 20-ball 19 was the highest score in the innings.

Pakistan Shaheens were bowled out for 93 in 18.5 overs after they elected to bat. Shawaiz Irfan top-scored with 32-ball 34 and hit two sixes and a four.

The next best scores were 13 by Basit Ali and Faisal Akram. Ruwantha Kellapotha was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 15. Fergus O’Nell and Tom Rogers picked up two wickets apiece.

In their second match of the Top End T20 Series, Pakistan Shaheens thrashed ACT Comets by nine wickets at the back of a half-century by opener Shamyl Hussain.

The left-handed batter made 57 not out off 44 balls, hitting nine fours, to help his side overhaul the 123-run target at the 15.2 overs mark.

This was Pakistan Shaheens’ second game in the 2023 Top End T20 Series.

Shamyl Hussain laid a solid foundation for the run chase with a 66-run stand with Dera Murad Jamali-born Basit Ali, who struck two fours and a six in his 27-ball 28, before adding the remaining runs with captain Rohail Nazir, who made 39 not out at a sparkling rate of 185. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed four fours and a six.

Pakistan Shaheens had opted to bowl after Rohail called correctly at the toss and put up a disciplined show with the ball.

Faisal Akram, the left-arm unorthodox, returned two for 22 and Sajjad Ali and Arafat Minhas picked up a wicket each as ACT Comets managed 122 for seven.

Nicholas Broes top-scored with 37 off 34 (two fours), Zak Keogh made 23 off 31 and Hanno Jacobs made 20 off 17.

Shaheens play the next match tomorrow, against Melbourne Stars, at the same venue. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 1830 local time.

READ: Pakistan team reaches India for Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

Shamyl shines as Pakistan Shaheens claim first win in Top End T20 series

Pakistan Shaheens thrashed ACT Comets by nine wickets in the Top End T20 Series at the DXC Arena on Monday at the back of a half-century by opener Shamyl Hussain.

The left-handed batter made 57 not out off 44 balls, hitting nine fours, to help his side overhaul the 123-run target at the 15.2 overs mark.

This was Pakistan Shaheens’ second game in the 2023 Top End T20 Series.

Pakistan Shaheens had opted to bowl after Rohail called correctly at the toss and put up a disciplined show with the ball.

Faisal Akram, the left-arm unorthodox, returned two for 22 and Sajjad Ali and Arafat Minhas picked up a wicket each as ACT Comets managed 122 for seven.

Nicholas Broes top-scored with 37 off 34 (two fours), Zak Keogh made 23 off 31 and Hanno Jacobs made 20 off 17.

In their first match of the Top End T20 Series, Pakistan Shaheens succumbed to a 59-run defeat against Northern Territory Strike on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Northern Territory Strike scored 185 for five in 20 overs. Param Uppal top-scored for his side, returning unbeaten on 59 off 28 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.

Opening batter Josh Kann was other contributor with the bat, scoring a 31-ball 47, which included two fours and four sixes.

For Pakistan Shaheens, spinners Aaliyan Mahmood and Arafat Minhas bagged two wickets apiece.

In turn, Shaheens got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets in the first two balls of their innings to right-arm fast Tom Menzies.

Opening batter Shamyl Hussain was joined by captain Rohail Nazir and the pair stitched a 49-run partnership for the third wicket.

Left-handed Shamyl returned back to the hut in the eighth over after scoring 26 off 23 balls, which included two fours and a six.

After Shamyl’s departure, Arafat (3, 5b) was soon back in the hut with Pakistan Shaheens reeling at 62 for four in 8.5 overs.

At that stage, Mohammad Irfan Khan joined captain Rohail and the duo knitted 29 runs for the fifth wicket – the second-best partnership of the innings for the visiting team.

The dangerous-looking Rohail got out in the 13^th over after scoring 41 off 33 balls, hitting two sixes and a four.

Irfan (20, 15b, 2x4s) and Ahmed Khan (19, 12, 1×4, 1×6) were the other contributors with the bat before Pakistan Shaheens were bundled out for 126 in 18.4 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens take on Melbourne Renegades at TIO Stadium tomorrow. The first ball will be bowled at 1800 local time.

READ: Pakistan thump Årvoll IL to reach second round of Norway Cup

Northern Territory Strike beat Pakistan Shaheens by 59 runs

Northern Territory Strike beat Pakistan Shaheens by 59 runs in the opening match of the Top End T20 Series at the Gardens Oval in Darwin on Sunday afternoon.

Shaheens will take on ACT Comets tomorrow in their second Top End T20 Series fixture at the DXC Arena. The first ball will be bowled at 1800 local time.